State guide
Alaska
Alaska regulates onsite wastewater through the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water, rather than county health departments. For homeowner systems, DEC’s guidance centers on a registered Alaska professional engineer for soils, percolation if needed, design, and certification, while certified installers or approved homeowners may build conventional systems.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water, regulates onsite wastewater disposal systems statewide.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- DEC says a registered Alaska professional engineer evaluates soils, performs a percolation test if necessary, designs the system, and certifies completion; homeowners may instead submit soil classification using a sieve analysis by a registered engineer or soils laboratory.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- $115 registration fee for documentation of conventional and alternative wastewater systems not requiring plan approval; $655 plan review fee for 0-1,500 gpd systems requiring plan review.
Official resources in Alaska
Main homeowner guidance for septic installation, soils evaluation, homeowner training, and DEC notifications.
Shows DEC wastewater engineering area offices and explains that notifications for systems not requiring plan approval are submitted through EDMS.
Official statewide wastewater plan-review, registration, and authorization fee tables.
Official list of certified installers for conventional onsite wastewater systems.
Official state licensee search for engineers and land surveyors.
Key facts for Alaska
- DEC says notifications for onsite systems not requiring plan approval must be submitted through EDMS at least 24 hours before construction or modification.
- DEC says a registered Alaska professional engineer evaluates soils, performs a percolation test if necessary, designs the septic system, and certifies completion.
- DEC says certified installers may install conventional septic systems after completing DEC training.
- DEC says approved homeowners may install one system on their owner-occupied private residence within one year of certification.
- DEC’s fee table lists a $115 registration fee for conventional or alternative systems not requiring plan approval.
- DEC’s fee table lists $655 for wastewater system plan review at 0-1,500 gallons per day.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Alaska
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Area Office | Anchorage | Not published* | DEC wastewater engineering office serving part of southcentral and western Alaska; use for onsite wastewater contacts and submissions assigned there. |
| Mat-Su Area Office | Wasilla | Not published* | DEC wastewater engineering office for the Mat-Su area; homeowners use DEC offices for required notices and wastewater contacts. |
| Soldotna Area Office | Soldotna | Not published* | DEC wastewater engineering office covering much of the Kenai Peninsula area. |
| Fairbanks Area Office | Fairbanks | Not published* | DEC wastewater engineering office for the Interior; area offices are the local state contact points for onsite wastewater work. |
| Juneau Area Office | Juneau | Not published* | DEC wastewater engineering office for southeast Alaska and general area-office contact for assigned submissions. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check with the correct DEC area office before work begins and submit the required prior-day or EDMS notice.
- If you plan to build your own conventional system, complete DEC’s approved homeowner training before construction.
- Use the certified installer list and the state engineering license search to verify the people you hire.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Alaska's population center, for comparison only):
- Clallam County On-site Septic System Permits, Inspections & Education, Washington · about 1272 miles
- Whatcom County Onsite Sewage, Washington · about 1275 miles
- Snohomish County Health Department Septic Permitting, Washington · about 1326 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DEC Installing or Upgrading a Septic System
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Alaska page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.